Brassard’s two goals not enough, Flyers drop back-to-back games

Derick Brassard’s two goals weren’t enough as the Flyers dropped consecutive games for the first time in their 2021-22 season.

The Flyers 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday also marked the end of a win-one lose-one streak that dated back to October 28th, when they beat the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks in back-to-back nights.

Martin Jones was sharp for the Flyers during the first period, saving 20 of the Bruins’ 21 shots. For a team that had not played since last Saturday, Boston looked faster than Philadelphia. They drew two penalties that the Flyers would kill, but broke the ice late in the first period. Tomas Nosek was left all alone in the crease after an aggressive Bruins forecheck that drove both Flyers defensemen behind the net. Nosek took the puck from his forehand to his backhand before roofing it past Jones for a 1-0 lead.

After the first intermission the Bruins would increase their lead as Derek Forbort scored his second goal of the season on a puck that deflected off Justin Braun’s stick and past the blocker of Jones.

But fitting for Star Wars Night, Derick Brassard brought the Flyers A New Hope about a minute later. Rasmus Ristolainen got things started as he attempted a slap-pass that went wide of the net. The puck would be retrieved by Cam Atkinson, who wrapped it to the front where Brassard was tangled up but managed to tip it past Linus Ullmark.

After a big line scrum resulted in a Brad Marchand penalty, the Flyers struggling power play hit the ice. Brassard would get his second of the game after Claude Giroux fired a pass across to the right hash, it was tipped right on to the stick of Brassard who deposited the puck into a wide open net. The goal was the Flyers fourth in their last 42 power plays. Philadelphia had five total power play opportunities on Saturday and would only convert on one.

Despite the power play woes, the Flyers had significant momentum and Joel Farabee even had a scrap with Charlie McAvoy.

It looked as though the Flyers would head in to the third period squared at two, but the Bruin empire would strike back. Forbort picked up his second goal of the night with 3:33 left in the second period on a snipe over the left shoulder of Jones.

Philadelphia was simply outplayed from the opening puck drop and could not convert on their power play opportunities. They’d allow two more goals in the third period. Craig Smith picked one up early in the third and David Pastrnak sealed the deal for the Bruins after a questionable delay of game penalty on Philadelphia after the Flyers had just gotten a power play.

The loss brings the Flyers to 8-5-3 on the season as they prepare for a trip to Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night.